Pressure is mounting on Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to increase direct supports for suckler farmers to €200/cow.

Addressing a crowd of more than 400 farmers attending the Irish Farmers Journal/IFA suckler demonstration in Balla, Co Mayo, on Tuesday night, IFA president Joe Healy said the Irish Government must follow in the footsteps of France, which has coupled almost €700m per annum in an effort to protect the national suckler herd.

While Healy welcomed the introduction of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme as a positive start, he said an increased payment was essential to address the income challenges facing the sector.

Strong live exports

Speaking at the event, Aurivo Co-op general mart manager Martin Walsh said: “Suckling is at a crossroads. The large crowd here clearly shows farmers’ commitment to the sector but the reality is that they cannot continue to operate at a loss.”

Walsh sees a coupled payment combined with a strong live export trade as essential to maintaining suckler cow numbers along the western seaboard.

On the issue of live exports, Michael Sheehan from the Department of Agriculture said there is strong optimism about live exports to Turkey for 2017 and the market has the potential to take as many suitable animals as Ireland can supply.

He said contract talks are ongoing and should be finalised soon, adding that Turkey is very happy with the quality and health of Irish cattle.

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